Mail-feeding mechanism.



IVI. G. VOIGTLANDER.

`MAILFIEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED Mln/18,1918.

2 SHEETSv-SHEET l.

OGGQOGO@ OGQOOOQO 0000000@ OOOOGOOO .OOGGGOOG C @GOGO IVI. G.VOIGTLANDER. MAIL FEI-:DING MAE-CHANISM. APPLICATION FILED` MAY'IB,|918.

,293y260 Patented Feb.4,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. To all 'whom z't may concer/n:

n ernten,

'ro FRED A. FISCHER Anp KENTUCKY.

Original application le'd J'uly 5, 1917, Serial No. 178,833. Divided andthis Serial No. 235,379..

Be it known that I, MAXIMILIAN G. Volcr- LANDEB, a citizen of the UnitedStates residing at Cincinnati, in-the' county of Iamilton and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail- FeedingMechanism, of which the following is a specification. j V The presentapplicationis a division of my application for patent on improvements inmail distributing devices, filed Jul 5, 1917, Serial No. 178,833, whichexemplifies a device in which the resent invention is employable and towhlch reference is hereby made.

It is the object of my invention to .provide novel meansv for initiatingthe movement' of pieces of vInail to be distributed; further to providenovel lmeans for separately feeding the lrespective pieces of and,further, to provide novel means for separately projecting pieces of mailin the feedin -movement and retarding the, balance o? the pieces of mailto insure separate projection of the several pieces of mail.

The invention will be furthen readily understood from the followingdescription and claims, and from the drawings, in which latter Figure' 1is a plan view'of my' improved device, shown in connection wlth only somuch of a mail distributing mechanism as is necessary to illustrate myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a bottom view ofthesame. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of-the electricalconnections.

Fig. 5 is aside elevation of a switch for forming the electric circuit.

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-,section ofthe same, taken on the line 6-6 ofFig. 5; and,

Fig. 7 isa detail in vertical cross-section, taken on the line 7 7 ofFig. 2, showing the driving gearing. t

I have shown, described and claimed the electric connections and devices-in conjunction therewith in my aforesaid application heretofore filedand do not therefore herein claim the same.

y invention' is employable where it is desired to project or feedvpieces. of mail.

Specication of Letters Patent.

mail;

A of a slide 13 slidable on rods 14 v the bottom of the receptacle andare. urged pressed.

ONE-THIRD 'ro JOHN J. CRAIG, 30TH or COVINGTON, MAIL-FEEDING MECHANISM.

Patented nel. i, raie.

application led May 18, 1918.

separately for distribution, for instance, in

a device shown, described and claimed in my aforesaid applicationheretofore filed.

My invention contemplates a manually-opjecting the same into,v conveyingmechanism for conveyance thereof to amail compartment 'or' compartments,and retarding means acting on the Fiecesof mail toinsure that but onepiece o mail is projected and fed at the same time.

.55 erated electric control for initiating movements .of the separatepieces of mall; pro- The pieces of mail are instancedas moving in thedirection of arrow a .(Fig. 1), to-

ward the mail compartment or compart-A nail travel consecutively.

AThe mail, preferably as it comes from the canceling machine, isreceived in a receptacle 11, (se e Figs. 1, 2 and 3), wherein it is seton edge, one piece of mail in rear of the other, and normally pressedtoward the delivering end l2 of the receptacle, as by means which formtoward the delivering end by means of a weight 15 on a iiexibleConnectlon 16 received over Ia directing pulley 17 and attached to theslide.

Each piece of mail, instanced at 18, (Fig. 2), as it arrives at thedelivering end of the receptacle, has its address, exempliiied at b,

- lexposed by the exposure opening' 21 pref-- erably filled by atransparent plate 22 as ofglass, and has a quick thrust movement orimpulse imparted thereto by the operator, whose position is at thekey-board 23, the

Arespectlve keys 24 of the key-board controlling the initiation oftravel, so that the feedling impulse may be imparted to the piece ofmailwhose address is exposed by the 'exposure opening, regardless ofwhich key is I have, in Fig. 4, shown a diagrammatic representation ofthe electric circuit for controlling this initiation of travel by one ofthe keys, asv will be hereinafter explained, the controlling mechanismfor the respective keys being preferably duplicates of this mechanism,in so faras imparting feeding of the arrow c (Fig. 1).

' concerned,

the respective pieces of mail is the'construction of each key and itsconnected mechanism being'shown in Figs. 5 and 6. i

The initiation of travel of the vpiece of mail, Whose address is exposedat the exposure opening in front of the operator, is caused by a motioninitiating roller 27 The roller 27'preferably has knobs 28 thereon, forinstance of rubber or other material making ready frictional contactwith `the piece of mail exposed for delivery, for-imparting ,the desiredquick motion or impulse thereto.

Roller 27 normally moves in the direction A retarding roller 29 rotatesin a direction so that that portion of its periphery which contacts themail moves opposite to the direction of movement of the mail contactingportion of the periphimpulse to ery of the roller 27, and is arranged toretard all other than the one piece of mail at the forward end of thestack of mail contacted by the roller 27 and intended at the moment fordelivery. The retarding roller acts to push back into the receptacle anypiece of mail Which has a tendency to adhereto ormove with the one pieceof mail being delivered.

y 40 of a bracket-frame The ieee of mail being delivered is nextpreferably engagedl by a follow-up feeding roller 31, which rotates inthe same direction and at the same side of the path o f the mail asltheroller 27', and preferably engages the piece of mail prior to releasethereof by the roller 27 for continuing the thrust movef.

ment of the same toward the conveyer. The rollers preferablycontinuously rotate.

The roller 27 is fixed to a shaft 36 rotated in a bearingb37i of an arm38 pivoted by a bearing 39 a out a depending bearing-sleeve 41 fixed tothe main frame of the machine. Af spring 42, the-respective ends ofwhich are secured to the arm and to the bracket-frame, normallyresiliently urges the roller 27 away from contact with the mail. I

As soon as the operator desires to project or feed va piece of exposedmai-l, he presses one of the keys 24 of the keyboard. The depression of'the key, in the present instance, energizes an electro-magnet 45, thecoil or coils of which are preferably fixed to the bracket-frame 41, andthe armature 46 o f Which is preferably fixed to the arm 38, so thatwhen the key isl operated, the armature is momentarily attracted towardthe coil and the motion-initiating Vroller 27 momentarily makes contactwith the forward or exposed piece of mail for initiating its movementwith a sharp thrust. l

. A eonveyer, instanced as comprising a pair of belts 49, travelslaterally for aiding in carrying the piece of mail to its destina-A agear 67 meshing With lmeshes with the gear 4pressed toward theIcompartments arranged to selectively receive the respective pieces ofmail, as explained in my aforesaid application.

The belts are caused to move by being received about pulleys at therespective ends of the loops thereof, the being shown; Themail-contacting stretches of the belt ino've in the direction of thearrow a, (Fig. 1). The ulley 51 is fixed to an upright shaft 52. hisshaft rotates in a bearing 53 of the bracket-frameand has a bevel-gear54 secured thereto. (See Figs. 1, 2 and 3). A bevel pinion 5 5 mesheswith the bevel-gear and 1s journaled in bearings 57, 58, and has a gear59 fixed thereto. A drive-shaft 61is suitably driven, as by means of apulley 62 thereon, receiving a suitable belt 63 thereover from a usualelectric motor 64, which may be suitably supported on the ,frame of themachine. The drive-shaft has a gear 66 thereon Which meshes With atransmitting the gear 59.V

A gear 71 is fixed to the pulleyesliaft 52 and meshes with atransmitting gear 72, which meshes with a gear 73 on a shaft 74,journaled in the bearing-sleeve 40. The follow-up roller 31 is fixed tothis shaft. The

` gear 73 mesheswith the vtransmitting gear 76, which meshes with a gear77 on the shaft 36, for rotating the motion initiating rollei` 27. Theretarding roller 29 is rotated by a train of gears 81, 82, 83, 84. Thegear 81 73 and thegear 84 Vis xed to a shaft 85 to which the retardingroller 29 issecured.

The pieces of mail are arranged to move in a channel 88,

fixed to a shaft 564 instanced as having a bot-l driving pulley 51 tom89 and jside Walls 90, 91. The side wallsl are connected by suitableyokes 92 received over lthe channel 88 for permitting the pieces ofmailtol pass thereunder. 90 is preferably extended upwardly for 'The sideWall forming a backing support for the propelling stretch of the endlessbelt. The belts pass through apertures 93 in the 4side wall 91. The sideWall 90 is provided with a rearward extension 95, at the receiving endthereof, forming a Wall for the receptacle 11. The rollers 27, 29, 31,project through slots 97, 98, 99, in the respective side Walls. Asuitable number of rollers 101, instanced as idler rollers, may beprovided for aiding in feeding the pieces of mail. The idler rollershown, is mounted onb a shaft 102 in a lever 103 pivoted at 104 to abracket 105 extending from the side Wall 90, and springbelt by a spring106 located between the heel 107 of the lever and the bracket, so as tocontact thepiece of mail and urge the same toward the conveyer iso A121of the frame of sented a desirable electric circuit for the electrictranslating device in Fig. 4, and in Figs. 5 and 6 I have exemplified adcthe key. l

111 represents a battery with which the leads for the key mechanism areconnected. An electric conductor 112 leads. from one of the poles of thebattery and is electrically connected with a contact 113 for the key. Acoacting contact 114 is provided. An arm 115 has yan electric contact116 thereon arrangedi to bridge the contacts 113, 114. The contact 116is located on and moves with the arm 115 but is insulated therefrom byinsulation 117.

The arm 115 is pivoted at 120' to lugs the key-board, a spring 122normally raising, the arm, so that the conltact thereon is normally outof contact with its coacting contacts. An electric contracted by aspring 140, a

ductor 124 leads from the other pole of the battery to one of theterminals of the coil of the electro-magnet 45, which controls thearmature 46 for the movementinitiating roller .2.7, for initiatingmovement of the mail. lAn electric conduc'tor 125 connects with theother terminal of saidI electro-magnet and is electrically connectedwithV |,the electric contact 114, so that said electro-magnet isenergized by closing the gap between the contacts 113, 114, by means ofthe electric lcontact 116, so that the roller 27 is moved toward themail at each actuation of the key The contact of thelcon't-act 116 withthe contacts 113, 114, is preferably only momentary for causingoperation o'f the motion initiation roller 27 on the piece of mail onlysuliiciently long to initiate movement of said piece of mailsufficiently to cause its being received imparting means.

For aiding in this result, I provide 'the key-bar 128 with an operatinglinger 129, pivoted to the key-bar at 130 and arranged to contact theend of the switch-arm 115 and move the latter for a given distance,whereupon 'the linger drops away from the switch-arm for causingretraction of said arm by means of the spring 122. In order to giveawide range of movement -to the arm, I have provided the linger with anextension 131 having a slot 132 therein, a pin 133 being received in theslot and controlling the direction and movement of the finger. lThe pin133 is in an upright 134 which carries'a bearing 135 for the keybar.

The key-bar is received through an apertu-re 138 in a Supporting plate139 of the key-board mechanism, and is normally repin 141 limitingretractive movement of the key-bar. The contacts 113, 114, are insulatedfrom the slrable form of electric contact means .for

.prismg a normally by the next motion n and into inactive relationcombination of a mail supporting plate bya sheet 142 of insnlation. thespring 140, the operatinginger 1.29 will repass the arm 115 for beinglocated thereabove ready for a subsequent depression of said arm at thenext depression of the `key-bar.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a mail distributingmechanism, the

VVWillen the key-bar is retracted -bv combination of a mail receptacle,mail conveying means coacting therewith, and means projecting mail intosaid conveying means tact with the piece of mail exposed lthereto,

'said last-named means including an electric translating device.

2, In a mail distributing mechanism, the

Acombination of a mail receptacle, mail conveying means therefor, andmeans projecting mail into said conveying means comcontinuously rotatingmail projecting roller, a mail retarding part coactlng with said mailprojecting4 roller, and means for alternately moving Said mailprojecting roller into active relation'and into inactive relation withIthe mail including resilient means for moving said mail projectingroller in one direction and electric means to move said' mail projectingroller in the opposite direction for causing alternate momentary contactof said mail projecting roller with the piece of mail exposed theretoand@ idle relation of said mail projecting roller.

3.In a mail-:distributing mechanism, the combination of a mailreceptacle, mail conveying means thereof and means projecting mail intosaid conveying means comprising a normally continuously rotating mailprojecting roller, a. mail retarding part coaoting with said mailprojecting roller, means for alternately moving said mail projectingroller 'into a'ctive relation with the mail including an electrictranslatin d'evice to move said mail projecting rol er, whereby to causealternate momentary contactV ofl said mail projecting roller with thepiece of mail exposed thereto and idle relation j of said mailprojecting roller, and av ropelling roller between said mail retar `ingpart and said mail conveying means.v

'4. In a mail distributing mechanism, the

receptacle, mail conveying means coacting therewith and means projectingmail into said conveying means comprising a normally continuouslrotating mail projecting roller, a norm ycontinuously 'rotating mailretarding roller coacting with said first-named roller, means normallyresiliently holding said mail projecting roller in inactive relationwith the mail, and electric means acting to momentarily move said mailprojecting roller into contact with the piece of mail exposed thereto.

5. In a mail distributing mechanism, the combination of a mailreceptacle, mail conveying means therefor, and means projecting mailinto said conveying means comprising anormally continuously rotatingmail projecting roller, a normally continuously rotating mail retardingroller coacting with said iirst-named roller, means normally resilientlyholding said mail projecting roller in inactive relation with the mail,electric means acting to momentarily move said mail projecting rollerinto contact-With the piece of mail exposed thereto, and a propellingroller between said retarding roller and said mail convel'yilig means.

6. n a mail distributing mechanism, the combination of a mail receptaclearranged for receiving mail to be distributed, said mail receptaclehaving an exposure opening for exposingthe addresses on the pieces ofmail means for normally urging the pieces oiimai toward said exposureopening, a normally rotating propulsion roller, means resiliently urgingsaid propulsion roller to position with relation to the pieces ofmail,electric means for moving said propulsion roller in opposite direction,mechanism comprising a key, and means coacting with .said key. forcontrolling the electric circuit in said electric means.

7 In a mail distributing mechanism, the combination of a mail receptaclearranged for receiving mail to be distributed, said mail receptaclehaving an exposure opening for exposing the addresses on the pieces ofmail, means for normally urging the pieces of mail toward said exposureopening, a normally rotating propulsion roller, means .resilientlyurging said propulsion roller to inactive re lation with the pieces ofmail, electric means for normally moving said propulsion roller intoactive relation with the piece of mail eX- posed at said exposureopening, mechanism comprising keys, means coacting with said `activerelation With 'circuit for said electric respective keys for causingelectric circuit in l said electric means for moving said propulsionroller into said active relation,` and a rctarding roller coacting'withsaid propulsion roller for retarding pieces of mail free of contact bysaid propulsion rollen 8. In'a mail distributing mechanism,'the

combination of a mail receptacle arranged for receiving mail lto..bedistributed, saidv mail receptacle having an exposure opening forexposing the addresses on the pieces o1 mail, .means for normally urgingthe pieces of mail toward said exposure opening, a normally rotatingpropulsion roller, means resiliently urging said propulsion roller to position with relation to thepieces .of mail, electric means -for movingsaid propulsion roller in opposite direction, mechanism comprising keys,means coacting with said ,respective keys for controlling the electriccircuit in said electric means -whereby to move said propulsion rollerinto active relation with the mail, a second roller acting on therespective pieces of mail, and a retardin roller coacting vvith saidpropulsion roller ocated between said propulsion roller and said secondroller, acting on the sides' of the pieces of mail opposite to thelatter;

the

9. In a mail distributing mechanism, combination of a mail receptaclehaving an exposure openin means fornormally urging the pieces o opening,a normally rotating propulsion roller for the pieces pulsion roller toposition the same, mechanism comprising a key-board, and an electrictranslating device, the keys of said key-board respectively comprisingmeans aecting said electric circuit whereby said electric translating.device is caused to act for movement of said propulsion roller towardthe exposed piece of mail for propelling the same.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo subscribing Witnesses.

MXIMILLN VG. VOIGTLANDER. Witnesses:

DAWSON E. BUDLEY, THERESA M. SILBER.

mail toward said exposurey of mail normally 1n inl t the pieces of mail,an electric translating device acting on said pro-

